Door lock



J. PICKLES Feb. 6, 1962 DOOR LOCK Filed Dec. 21, 1959 FIG.|.

IN VEN TOR. m

JOSEPH PICKLES A% 7* AT1IORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,020,074 Patented Feb. 6, 1962 3,020,074 1300K LOCK Joseph Pickles, Dearborn, Mich, assignor to Ferro Stamping Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 21, 1959, fier. No. 860,791 6 (Ilaims. (Cl. 22-2S The present invention relates to a door lock, particularly devised for use as an automobile door lock, which is of extremely simple and inexpensive type. Generally speaking, its operation involves the principle of locking the door by disabling a door operator, such as an outside handle-controlled member or linkage, from performing its normal function, upon manipulation of said member or linkage, of causing a latching or detent element of the lock to move out of latching or restraining engagement with a rotary type latch member. This may be either of the rotary bolt type having a plurality of equally spaced tooth-like latching projections about it periphery, or a forked oscillatory, spring urged type of latch, either of these types of latch being adapted to take latching engagement with a fixed keeper on the automobile door frame.

Locks of this general sort, in which the operating member is thus disabled, are sometimes referred to as free wheeling or ovcrrunning, being characterized by the fact that when they are locked the door operator acts in the normal manner, but is incapable of transmitting an nnlatching operation to the detent to release the bolt of the look. In this respect, they are distinguished from another class of locks in which the door operator, usually an outside handle-controlled member or linkage, is positively blocked from a motion which would unlatch the door lock. 7

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved and highly simplified door lock of the so-called free wheeling type, which consists of an absolute minimum of component parts, and is thus to be sharply distinguished from the relatively complex locks, both free wheeling and positive blocking or dogging in action, which are presently proposed or in use.

Another object is to provide a lock of the character described in which, in the locked condition thereof, during which unlatching movement as originated by an operating member is ineffective to unlatch the lock, the engagement of a latching detent member with a further latch member which moves with the rotary or oscillatory spring urged bolt is maintained unbroken. locked condition, movement of" the operator results in swinging of the detent member out of locking engagement with the bolt latch member, thereby enabling disengagement of the bolt with the keeper of the lock. In accordance with the invention, the disabling of the operator member in regard to its normal function of movthe latch detent member is performed by removing the fulcrum anchor about which it swings in such unlatching effort; and in this respect the principle underlying the invention is similar to that controlling locks of the character illustrated and described in my Letters Patent 2,876,032 of March 3, 1959, and in the copending application of William G.=Gilmore and Elmore L. Zibbell, Serial No. 742,192, filed June 16, 1958, now Patent No. 2,973,216, dated February 28, 1961.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved and simplified lock of the free wheeling type which, insofar as its basic latching and her.

locking performance is concerned, involves the use of only four essential parts. These are the outside door-' handle operated member, referred to above; a toothed rotary member coaxially fixed to and movable with a locking bolt, which may be assumed for the present pun pose to bee toothed type; a latching detent member, shown in the form of a bell crank and having a fixed pivot about which it moves into and out of latching engagement with the bolt latch member referred to, the latching member in question affording a floating type of pivot for the first mentioned outside-operated member; and a control or locking member which is swingable into and out of positions in which it affords a fixed fulcrum for the first mentioned operator or operated member, i.e., the member operated by an outside door.

There is, in addition to the basic components referred to above, a further operating member controlled in the usualfashion from an inside door handle through a suitable linkage, and operation of this inside-operated member results in unlatching of the door, the first mentioned member of the combination described in the preceding paragraph then swinging about a fixed frame or plate abutment to cause it to swing the latching detent member out of latching engagement with the bolt latch mem- In association with an inside-operated structure of this sort, the invention contemplates provisions where by the abutment-furnishing locking member referred to above may be swung by the structure in question into and out of a position in which it furnishes the required fulcrum for unlatching action or removes the fulcrum to disable the latching device.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as this description proceeds especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a more or less schematic view in end elevation of a free wheeling type of lock in accordance with the invention, showing operating, latching and locking members in a relationship for unlatching of the lock upon manipulation of the operating member;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical cross section along line 2-4; of FIG. 1, better showing the locking member and its assembly in relation to an inside operated member of the lock; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in section similar to I "FIG. 2, showing the locked condition of the look;

In the un- The improved lock is generally designated by the refcrence numeral 10, and comprises a mounting plate 11 in the form of a sheet metal stamping of L-shaped outline providing a main plate 12 of vertically elongated rectangular outline and a flange 13 of an approximately truncated triangular shape. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, plate 11 is mounted upon the door at the free swinging end of the latter, with its plate 12 flush with that end and the flange 13 extending around the inner edge of the door end. So mounted, a rotary or spring urged type of locking bolt (not shown, but of entirely conventional and well known character) is adapted to be releasably engaged with a keeper device or keeper pin (not shown) on the fixed door frame. The locking bolt in question projects outwardly of plate 12 and the door end.

The reference outline '15 shown in dot-dash line in FIG. 1 of the drawings, may be considered to represent the peripheral rotative path of a locking bolt (not shown) to the shaft of which a toothed latch member 16 is co- 3 axially secured, with the latch member 16 on the opposite side of plate 12 from the bolt. Appropriate provisions of a simple and conventional type will be made to rotatably mount such latch bolt unit on plate 12.

Latch member 16 is formed to provide a plurality of ratchet-like latching teeth 17 projecting radially in equally spaced circumferential relationship about the latch member, a member of this type being entirely conventional. The reference numeral 18 designates a holding or detent member in the form of a bell crank suitably pivoted on plate 12 at 19, this pivot being a fixed one. Detent 1.8 includes a holding or latching arm 20 and a control or operating arm 21, the arm 20 being adapted to have latching engagement with one of the teeth 17, as shown in solid line in FIG. 1, and to be moved, upon clockwise swing of the arm, to the latch-releasing position shown in dotted line in FIG. 1. Member 18 is urged in a direction for latching engagement with the teeth 17 by appropriate means, conventionally shown as a coil spring 22 acting between the arm 20 of detent 18 and the flange 13 of mounting plate 11.

The swing of detent member 18 is controlled by means of an operating member, generally designated 24. The end of the arm 21 of detent 18 provides a floating pivot at 25 for the operating member 24 at a point approximately midway of its horizontal length. As urged by the spring 22 acting through the detent member 18, member 24 is upwardly restrained by a cushioned stop 26 appropriately mounted upon the mounting plate 12 directly above the position of the floating pivot 25 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Plate 12 is also provided with suitable formations affording vertically spaced upper and lower fixed stops 27, 28 for the purpose of limiting vertical movement of the right-hand end of guiding member 24.

The operating member 24 has an elongated right-hand arm portion 29 (as viewed in FIG. 1), extending outwardly past the margin of plate 12, an upwardly extending operating link 30 or other suitable operating member is adapted to be pivotally connected at 31 to the end of arm 29. As indicated above, the linkage is adapted to be operated by a manual outer door handle in a fashion such that downward movement of link 30 produces unlatching movement of the detent member 12. An offset elongated arm portion 32 of operating member 24 extends to the left (as viewed in FIG. 1) through a vertically elongated opening 33 in the flange 13 of mounting plate 11.

The reference numeral 35 generally designates the control or locking member of the invention, which is of hell crank outline, pivoted at 36 on an embossment 37 of flange 13 directly above the slot or opening 33. Control member 35 has a foot or arm 38 which is adapted to be placed in a solid line position of FIG. 1, directly over the arm 32 of operating member 24, and in this position to act as an abutment preventing upward movement of this end of the arm, and as a fulcrum about which operating member 24 may swing when downward force is applied to its right-hand arm 29.

As thus constituted and mounted, with force applied to its right-hand arm 29, with the load represented by arm 21 of holding or detent member 18 pivoted at its midpoint, and with its fulcrum at its left-hand arm 32, the operating member 24 is a second class lever, and downward thrust applied by the operating link or member 30 causes member 24 to pivot about the lower end of control member arm 38 as a fulcrum. Consequently, the locking or detent member 18 is swung clockwise about its pivot 19 against the action of spring 22 to move its arm 20 outwardly to the dotted line release position of FIG. 1. The toothed latch member of the bolt unit is released and the door may be swung outwardly relative to its frame keeper (not shown),

However, when the locking or control member 35 is swung clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2, to bring its abutmeat or fulcrum arm 33 to the dotted line position, the fulcrum for the actuating member arm 32 is removed; and, consequently, when downward force is applied on its arm 29, the actuating member 24 simply swings about its pivot 25 (now a fixed pivot, relatively speaking) and its arm 32 swings upwardly without resistance. The force of spring 22 is ample to prevent displacement of detent member arm from the solid line locking engagement with a latch member tooth 17, as viewed in FIG. 1.

Fixed stops 27, 28 limit upward and downward movement, respectively, of the actuating member 24; and the stop 27 has a further significant function to be referred to.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawing, the reference numeral 40 generally designates an arm or lever which has a fixed pivot at 41 on the flange 13 of the mounting plate, and includes a downwardly extending arm 42 to which a horizontally extending link 43 is adapted to be pivotally connected at 44. Link 43 is a part of an inside handle-operated control of conventional character. At its upper end, the member 40 is forked to provide an operating arm 45 for the member 24, and a control arm 46 separated from the arm 45 by a space 47. The control or locking member 35 has its second arm 48 provided with an offset lug 49 adapted to enter into the space 47.

Thus it is seen that, with the flange-pivoted member 42 operated clockwise through link 43 by the inside operator handle (not shown) the arm 45 will move left-hand arm 32 (FIG. 1) of operating member 24 downwardly. Since the right-hand arm 29 of member 24 is restrained from above by the stop lug 27, and by link 30, due to the medial pivoting of member 24 to detent 13 at the downward force on arm 32 will cause member 24 to swing about its pivot to link or member 36 at 31 as a fulcrum, if the linking member is restrained from upward movement. This causes downward thrust to be exerted on the pivot 25, with resultant swing of detent member 18 in clockwise direction, against the force of spring 22. Again the action is that of a second class lever, and the detent arm 20 is swung out of holding relation to the latch tooth 17 previously engaged thereby.

The arm portion 46 of inside operated member 40, in the clockwise swing of the latter to unlatch the lock in the manner described, will engage the arm 48 of lock or control member 35, so as to swing the latter counterclockwise (if in locking or free wheeling, dotted line position, FIG. 2) and therefore restore the abutment or fulcrum foot 38 of member to operative position above arm 32 of operated member 24. Thus the lock is restored to a normal condition so that the next manipulation of the outside handle will unlatch the lock.

By the same token, when the inside operated member is swung counterclockwise, by a movement of the inside handle (not shown) opposite to that required for unlatching, its arm will engage the lug 49 on control member arm 48, thus swinging locking or control member 35 to the dotted line position of FIG. 2; and this places the lock in a free wheeling or locked condition, the effect of which has been described above.

Additional means are provided to swing control member 35 to and from operative, fulcrum abutment position (permitting inside or outside unlatching) and unlocked or free wheeling position (dotted line in FIG. 2), through the agency of the usual upright push button (not shown) extending upwardly through the door opening. This may take the form of a pin 50 extending from the side of the arm 38 of locking or control member 35, and having con ventional means (not shown) for operatively connecting the same to such push button.

The invention affords a free wheeling type automotive door lock of great simplicity, yet compact and reliable in operation. An operating connection or linkage is maintained at all times between an operating handle and a detent which normally holds the lock bolt latched, as distinguished from other types of free wheeling lock, in

which an operating linkage is disabled, at one point or more between the operator and detent to disable the link from transmitting unlatching effort to the detent. This continuity of force transmitting connection is made possible through the use of selective fulcrum points for the detent connected operating member 24, depending upon whether operation of the latter is from the outside or the inside, and, in the former case, of disabling by shifting the fulcrum out of position to be acted upon by said operating member.

The drawing and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved door lock in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention:

1. A door lock comprising a support having a latching member pivotally mounted thereon, a detent pivotally mounted on said support for movement to and from position in which it holds said latching member against movement to release the door, means urging said detent-to said holding position, an elongated operatingmember pivotally mounted medially of its length on said detent and adapted to operate the latter for movement outof said holding position under predetermined control of said operating member, locking means to optionally afford such control, comprising a control member mounted on said support for movement to and from position in which it is engaged as a fulcrum point by said operating member on one side of its pivot to the detent, whereby as so fulcrummed said operating member may be actuated to move said detent out of said holding position and when not so fulerummed to cause said operating member to swing idly about its pivot to said detent when actuated, means engageable with said operating member to cause said operating member to be actuated to move said detent out of said holding position, means providing a further fulcrum point for said operating member on the side of its detent pivot remote from said first named fulcrum point, and means engageable with said operating member to swing the same about said further fulcrum point to move said detent out of said holding position.

2. A door lock comprising a support having a latching member pivotally mounted thereon, a detent pivotally mounted on said support for movement to and from position in which it holds said latching member against movement to release the door, means urging said detent to said holding position, an operating member pivotally mounted on said detent and adapted to operate the latter for movement out of said holding position under predetermined control of said operating member, locking means to optionally aiford such control, comprising a control member mounted on said support for movement to and from position in which it is engaged as a fulcrum point by said operating member, whereby as so fulcrummed said operating member may be actuated to move said detent out of said holding position and when not so fulcrummed to cause said operating member to swing idly about its pivot to said detent when actuated, means providing a further fulcrum point for said operating member remote from said first named fulcrum point, and a device acting on said operating member adjacent said first named fulcrum point to swing said operating member about said further fulcrum point and move said detent out of said holding position.

3. A door lock comprising a support having a latching member pivotally mounted thereon, a detent pivotally mounted on said support for movement to and from position in which it holds said latching member against movement to release the door, means urging said detent to said holding position, an elongated operating member pivotally mounted medially of its length on said detent and adapted to operate the latter for movement out of said holding position under predetermined control of said operating member, locking means to optionally afford such control, comprising a control member mounted on said support for movement to and from position in which it is engaged as a fulcrum point by said operating member on one side of its pivot to the detent, whereby as so means providing a further fulcrum point for said operat-' ing member on the side of its detent pivot remote from said first named fulcrum point, and a device acting on said operating member adjacent said first named fulcrum point to swing said operating member about said further fulcrum point and move said detent out of said holding position.

4. A door lock comprising a support having a detent mounted thereon for movement to and from position in which it holds a latching member of the lock against movement to release a door, means urging said detent toward said holding position, an operating arm having a pivotal connection intermediate the length thereof to said detent which enables the arm to either swing idly about said pivotal connection as a fulcrum point, and thereby fail to move said detent from said'holding position, or to move with said detent in said movement of the latter, said operating arm being adapted to swing about a further fulcrum point on one side of said pivotal connection to move said detent, through the agency of the connection, out of said holding position of the detent, means optionally engaged by said operating arm to provide said further fulcrum point, means to selectively move said last named means into and out of position for said optional engagement by said operating arm, and an operating device engageable with said operating arm on the opposite side of said pivotal connection to move the arm about said further fulcrum point.

5. A door lock comprising a support having a detent mounted thereon for movement to and from position in which it holds a latching member of the lock against movement to release a door, means urging said detent toward said holding position, an operating arm having a pivotal connection intermediate the length thereof to said detent which enables the arm to either swing idly about said pivotal connection as a fulcrum point, and thereby fail to move said detent from said holding position, or to move with said detent in said movement of the latter, said operating arm being adapted to swing about a further fulcrum point on one side of said pivotal connection to move said detent, through the agency of the connection, out of said holding position of the detent, means optionally engaged by said operating arm to provide said further fulcrum point, means to selectively move said last named means into and out of position for said optional engagement by said operating arm, an operating device engageable with said operating arm on the opposite side of said pivotal connection to move the arm about said fur-ther fulcrum point, means providing a still further fulcrum point at said opposite side of the connection, and means to swing said detent and connection thereabout to move the detent out of said holding position.

6. A door lock comprising a support having a detent pivotally mounted thereon for movement to and from position in which it holds a latching member of the lock against movement to release a door, means urging said detent toward said holding position, an operating arm having a pivotal connection intermediate the length thereof to said detent which enables the arm to either swing idly about said pivotal connection as a fulcrum point, and thereby fail to move said detent from said holding position, or to move with said detent in said movement of the latter, said operating arm being adapted to swing about a further fulcrum point on one side of said pivotal connection to move said detent, through the agency of the connection, out of said holding position of the detent, means optionally engaged by said operating arm to and means to swing said detent and connection thereabout to move the detent out of said holding position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lovell Aug. 21, 1934 D2111 Apr. 28, 1953 Pickles Mar. 3, 1959 

